Classical musicians tend to play it safe, and that’s not meant as criticism.

The goal in this art form is to manifest the ideas of the masters, to render their meticulous works with the precision they deserve. Beethoven and Handel supplied their own nuances, thank you, no uppity 21st century violinist needs to add her own.

In that context, Avi Avital’s new renditions of familiar Bach compositions is downright radical. Avital, who plays the mandolin (the mandolin!), has transcribed the works to suit his own instrument, stealing the lines played for three centuries now by dedicated violinists, harpsichordists and flutists.